Acute Paraplegia Result from Spinal Ischemia Nine Years After Hybrid Total Arch Repair with Frozen Elephant Trunk: A Case Report.

Spinal cord ischemia due to decreased cord perfusion is a devastating complication in patients with thoracoabdominal dissection following frozen elephant trunk (FET) repair surgery. However, rare occurrence of spinal cord ischemia leading to paraplegia after long-term follow-up of FET repair has been reported. Here, we describe a case of spinal cord ischemia resulting in paraplegia nine years after hybrid total arch repair with FET. Cerebrospinal fluid drainage and serial treatment were utilized to decrease intraspinal pressure and increase blood flow to the spinal cord. Three months after the onset of paraplegia and with treatment and rehabilitation, the patient recovered to walk.

Acute Paraplegia Result from Spinal Ischemia Nine Years After Hybrid Total Arch Repair with Frozen Elephant Trunk: A Case Report

ABSTRACT Spinal cord ischemia due to decreased cord perfusion is a devastating complication in patients with thoracoabdominal dissection following frozen elephant trunk (FET) repair surgery. However, rare occurrence of spinal cord ischemia leading to paraplegia after long-term follow-up of FET repair has been reported. Here, we describe a case of spinal cord ischemia resulting in paraplegia nine years after hybrid total arch repair with FET. Cerebrospinal fluid drainage and serial treatment were utilized to decrease intraspinal pressure and increase blood flow to the spinal cord. Three months after the onset of paraplegia and with treatment and rehabilitation, the patient recovered to walk.

Internal valvuloplasty combined with sleeve wrapping in the treatment of severe deep venous incompetence: A case report.

BACKGROUND: The main cause of severe chronic venous insufficiency is deep venous incompetence. Deep venous reconstructive surgeries are reserved for cases that do not show a good response to conservative therapies. METHOD: We present the case of a 68-year-old man presenting with swelling, pain, and pigmentation in his left lower limb for 14 years and ulcers for 10 years. Descending venography identified a Kistner's grade IV reflux in the deep vein of the left lower limb. Internal valvuloplasty was performed following Kistner's method. Meanwhile, external wrapping with a 1-cm-wide polyester-urethane vascular patch was performed to strengthen the vein wall in the venospasm condition. RESULTS: Symptoms were immediately relieved postoperatively. Refractory ulcers healed five months after the procedure. At the six-month follow-up, color duplex ultrasound of the deep vein of the left lower limb showed no reflux in the proximal segment of the femoral vein. CONCLUSION: Internal valvuloplasty combined with sleeve wrapping is feasible in the treatment of severe deep venous incompetence with good short-term results.

Aspiration therapy for acute embolic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery.

BACKGROUND: Embolic superior mesenteric artery (SMA) occlusion is associated with high mortality rates. Delayed treatment often leads to serious consequences, including intestinal necrosis, resection, and even patient death. Endovascular repair is being introduced, which can improve clinical symptoms and prognosis and decrease the incidence of exploratory laparotomy. Many reports have described successful endovascular revascularization of embolic SMA occlusion. However, most of those reports are case reports, and there are few reports on Chinese patients. In this paper, we describe the technical and clinical outcomes of aspiration therapy using a guiding catheter and long sheath technique which facilitates the endovascular repair procedure. AIM: To evaluate the complications, feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of endovascular treatment for the acute embolic occlusion of the SMA. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed eight patients (six males and two females) from August 2013 to October 2018 at Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University. The patients presented with acute embolic occlusion of the SMA on admission and were initially diagnosed by computed tomography angiography (CTA). The patients who underwent endovascular treatment with a guiding catheter had no obvious evidence of bowel infarct. No intestinal necrosis was identified by gastrointestinal surgeons through peritoneal puncture or CTA. The complications, feasibility, effectiveness, safety, and mortality were assessed. RESULTS: Six (75%) patients were male, and the mean patient age was 70.00 ± 8.43 years (range, 60-84 years). The acute embolic occlusion of the SMA was initially diagnosed by CTA. All patients had undertaken anticoagulation primarily, and percutaneous aspiration using a guiding catheter was then undertaken because the emboli had large amounts of thrombus residue. No death occurred among the patients. Complete patency of the suffering artery trunk was achieved in six patients, and defect filling was accomplished in two patients. The in-hospital mortality was 0%. The overall 12-mo survival rate was 100%. All patients survived, and two of the eight patients had complications (the clot broke off during aspiration). CONCLUSION: Aspiration therapy is feasible, safe, and beneficial for acute embolic SMA occlusion. Aspiration therapy has many benefits for reducing patients' death, resolving thrombi, and improving symptoms.

Simultaneous kissing stent technique with stent grafts for subclavian artery aneurysm: a case report.

Treatment of subclavian artery aneurysm is typically performed as an open procedure. In recent years, the use of an endovascular approach has been reported. We experienced a case of subclavian artery aneurysm treated by simultaneous kissing stent technique. With fewer complications, this is a promising technique.

[Outcome comparison of open versus endovascular techniques in the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy, cost and safety of endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) versus open surgery in the treatment of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. METHODS: Retrospective analyses were conducted for the clinical data and follow-up information of 218 cases from January 2002 to December 2011 at our hospital. Open surgery group included 86 patients with an mean age of 65.5 years and a mean aneurysm diameter of 5.4 cm. In EVAR group, there were 132 cases with an average age of 76.8 years and a mean aneurysm diameter of 5.6 cm. RESULTS: Among 86 open cases, there were inverted "Y" type artificial graft (n = 83) and straight artificial graft (n = 3). The surgical success rate was 98.8%, perioperative period mortality rate was 2.3%, a mean volume of blood loss 450 ml and a mean transfusion volume 320 ml. The mean operative duration was 230 min, a mean hospitalization time (30 ± 3) days and a mean hospitalization cost RMB yuan 58 000. In EVAR group, the surgical success rate was 100% and perioperative period mortality rate 0.8%. Separating stent graft (n = 121, 91.7%), straight stent graft (n = 4, 3%) and one-stent-graft (n = 7, 5.3%). The mean operative duration was 150 min, a mean volume of blood loss 140 ml, a mean hospitalization time 15.5 days and a mean hospitalization cost RMB yuan 104 800. The operative duration, volume of blood loss and length of hospital stay of EVAR group were superior to those of open surgery group (P < 0.05). But the cost of group EVAR was significantly higher than that of group open surgery (P < 0.05). In group open surgery, 80 cases (94.1%) received a mean follow-up period of 46 months. And 79 artificial grafts maintained patency (98.8%) and 8 cases died (10%). There were 125 cases in group EVAR (94.7%) with a mean time of 32.5 months; stent graft patency in 120 cases (96%), 10 death; 8 complication cases (5.6%) involved stent migration (n = 2) and iliac artery branch occlusion (n = 6). Long-term effects had no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). In terms of the incidence of complications, group EVAR was significantly more than group open surgery (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In terms of operative duration, volume of blood loss and length of hospital stay, EVAR and open surgery treatment for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms group EVAR is significantly better than group open surgery. As far hospitalization cost, group EVAR is significantly higher than group open surgery. But, in terms of incidence of long-term complications, group EVAR is significantly higher than group open surgery while the latter often requires further interventions.

[Genetic analysis in the clinical diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV].

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the diagnosis of such a rare disease as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV by the technique of DNA(deoxyribonucleic acid)analysis. METHODS: The primer sequences of Col3A1 gene were designed. Genomic DNA was isolated from the peripheral blood samples. The amplification of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed and direct sequencing used to screen the mutations. A definite diagnosis was made in conjunctions with clinical features. RESULTS: Two nucleotide mutations for Col3A1 were found. One was in intron 15 while another in exon 30. The latter was an important mutation of a G to A transition (c.2209G > A) resulting in alanine to threonine substitution at position (p.Ala698Thr). The mutations were inherited from proband of pedigree. CONCLUSION: Genetic testing of Col3A1 mutation can facilitate an accurate diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

[Surgical treatment of subclavian artery occlusion].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effective surgical approaches in treating subclavian artery occlusion. METHODS: Between December 2005 and February 2010, 53 patients with subclavian artery occlusion were treated, including left subclavian artery occlusion (35 cases) and stenosis (5 cases), right subclavian artery occlusion (5 cases) and stenosis (4 cases), and bilateral subclavian artery occlusion (4 cases). There were 40 males and 13 females with an average age of 64 years (range, 22-77 years), including 49 cases of arteriosclerosis obliterans and 4 cases of aortic arteritis. The disease duration was 15 days to 20 months (6.5 months on average). In 49 patients with unilateral subclavian artery occlusion, 39 cases complicated by carotid or/ and cerebral artery lesion underwent axillo-axillary bypass grafting, and 10 cases without carotid or/and cerebral artery lesion underwent carotid-subclavian bypass grafting. Ascending aorta to bi-subclavian bypass grafting were performed on 4 cases with bilateral subclavian artery occlusion. After operation, patients received routine treatment with anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents. RESULTS: The operations were successfully performed in 52 cases with a successful rate of 98.11%. Thrombogenesis at anastomotic site occurred in 1 case of aortic arteritis after 48 hours. Two cases had brachial plexus crush injury and 4 had hematoma around the bilateral anastomosis after axillo-axillary bypass grafting, and all recovered with nonoperative therapy. A total of 52 patients were followed up 1-52 months (24.5 months on average). All patients survived and the symptoms of basilar and upper limb artery ischemia disappeared. Doppler ultrasonography showed that the blood flow was patent through anastomosis and polytetrafluoroethylene graft, and the vertebral artery flow was normal. Pseudoaneurysm at anastomosis was found in 1 case after 18 months and treated by interventional embolization. The postoperative graft patency rate was 100% at 1 year and at 2 years. CONCLUSION: Both thoracic and extrathoracic surgical approaches are effective for treating subclavian artery occlusion. The reasonable surgical approach should be selected according to the arteriopathy and the patient's condition. Perioperative treatment and strict intraoperative manipulation are important to guarantee the success of surgery.

[Treatment of severe acute deep venous thrombosis in lower extremity].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the method and effectiveness of treatment for severe acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in lower extremity. METHODS: Eighteen patients with severe acute DVT treated in our hospital from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2008 were retrospectively analysed. All the patients had limb edema and pain, sixteen had limb cyanochroia(one had calf skin ulcer and foot gangrene), two had limb pallor, ten had weakened dorsalis pedis artery pulsation, eight had silent dorsalis pedis artery pulsation. Colour Doppler ultrasonography revealed DVT and superficial venous thrombosis in all diseased limbs. One patient underwent above knee amputation for limb gangrene. Seventeen underwent surgical thrombectomy, of which three were simple thrombectomy, five were supplemented with suprapubic saphenous vein bypass, six with suprapubic PTFE graft bypass, three with iliac vein lysis angioplasty. RESULTS: One patient died (5.6%) on the third day after surgery. Limb edema relieved in seven patients (41.2%), reduced in ten patients (58.8%). All diseased limbs regained normal artery pulsation and skin appearance except for one limb amputated. Sixteen patients (94.1%) were followed up by a mean of 34 months. Limb edema disappeared in five patients (31.3%), reduced in eight patients (50%), recurrent in three patients (18.7%). Among three recurrent patients, one died of malignant tumor 9 months after operation, two had their graft occluded resulting from intimal hyperplasia. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical thrombectomy is an effective method for treating severe acute DVT in lower extremity.